Fire Safety

First Alert® Smoke Alarms and Combination Smoke/CO Alarms Recalled for Rapidly Draining Battery Power

Most fatal house fires start at night when residents are asleep inside. Although many people mistakenly believe that if their house caught fire, the smoke would wake them, that is not always the case. Poisonous gases from the fire can numb the senses, putting persons asleep inside into an even deeper sleep.

Smoke alarms may wake you up sooner, allowing you extra time to escape, thereby cutting your risk of dying in a house fire in half.

For minimum protection, a smoke alarm should be placed outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. The Shawnee Municipal Code requires a smoke alarm to be placed outside of the sleeping areas of any newly constructed home and one smoke alarm on each floor of the house, including the basement. Since smoke rises, alarms should be mounted high on the wall (4"-12" from the ceiling) or on the ceiling. Smoke alarms should not be installed too close to windows, doors, or forced-air registers, where drafts could interfere with their operation.

Once installed, it is equally important to change the batteries regularly. Smoke alarms should also be cleaned at least once a year, since dust or cobwebs can decrease the device's smoke sensitivity.

Being awakened by a smoke detector is not enough. You and your family should develop an escape plan, with two possible escape routes from each room, so everyone knows what to do if there is a fire.

All heaters are dangerous if not used properly. According to the National Fire Protection Association, most home-heating fires involve portable or "space" heaters, so electric heaters must be selected and used with care.

• Choose models with automatic safety switches that turn off the unit if it is tipped over accidentally.
• Always look for a label or tab indicating the heater has been tested/approved by a recognized independent testing lab.

Portable electric heaters are for temporary use only during power outages or repairs to the main heating unit, and not as permanent supplements to your main heating unit.

If you are going to use portable electric heaters, please make sure that you:

1. Check the cord before plugging in the heater; if frayed, worn or broken, do not use it. Either have an electrician replace the cord or replace the heater. Simply putting tape on the cord is not enough to prevent overheating and fire.
2. Never use an extension cord with a portable heater.
3. Keep portable electric heaters away from sinks, tubs, and other wet or damp places to avoid deadly electric shocks.
4. Keep any portable heater at least three feet away from curtains, newspapers, or anything that might burn.
5. Never leave the heater unattended and never leave the house or go to bed without turning off the heater. Do not hang items to dry above the heater.
6. Keep all heaters out of high traffic and exit areas.